Unlike some of these other people. I am a student at Tiger Schulmans Mixed Martial Arts. I started in Aug 2007. I had checked out the school by talking to other students, and attending one of their tournaments, and by speaking to instructors at another school.

They are supposedly less into the art and more into self defense which is fine with me.

The school is EXCELLENT for learning self defense, and getting you into shape. They are very commercialized in terms of signing you up and getting your money. Classes range from a low of $14 to about $23 depending on how many classes you buy and how you pay for the classes - all at once or charged over time.

Though they are commercialized, I accept that, as they are a very organized school with about 45 schools now, and they will not be going out of business. They may be commercialized but I would definitely highly recommend them. I go to the Bayside, New York School. The owner is a 5th degree black belt and is a great and dedicated instructor.

If you go to a REAL tournament such as one that I recently saw in Atlantic City - World Combat League, you will be impressed with the fighters from Tiger Schulmans.

Okay so we all understand its a bit pricey (and maybe then some) but whats the whole $99 introductory offer they always talk about (with free uniform)? Maybe thats back when it was TS Karate...I miss those commercials. I'm curious about the payment and such of the school even though I already have a place to train when I'm back in the city. But just for future reference (maybe even a job? hahaha).

You pay per class and thats it? No other options here?

_________________________
"you're going to work till you wish you were dead and then keep going.."
-Sgt Slaughter

If I'm not mistaken I think they represent themselves as TIGER SCHULMANS MIXED MARTIAL ARTS not KARATE anymore..not sure thought...But I think thats what i've seen where i live in New Jersey...The Dojo Im talking about is in Paramus,NJ LOCATED IN ROUTE 4 I believe...

Tiger Schulmann's can do whatever they want. However, I have a big problem with how they flipped their coin over the past 5 years.

Schulmann made his mark doing knock down karate tournaments and was really good at it. His chain started with traditional martial arts which included KATA. Now his chain not only got rid of kata they actually make fun of it now.

doesnt make sense to [censored] where you used to eat and sleep. If you want to jump on the MMA bandwagon for more profits fine. It's a business and got to go with what is hot. But dont try to portray that the system NEVER was into kata or the traditional martial arts.

_________________________
"I'm gonna come at you like a spider monkey"

I know the one on route 4 you mentioned. I went in one night to have a look and was unimpressed by the out of shape female black belt who greeted me and didn't know arthur from martha about martial arts. She knew nothing about her own style or others.

I saw the adult class and was less than impressed.

In addition, TS have a reputation for signing you up to long term contracts which you can't get out of, and then selling them to a collection agency.

Big problems.

To those of you that go there, what are your monthly bills like and what contract term did you sign up for.

This is a big problem with big schools like this. You don't get to train with the person you are paying to train with. But here's my impression.

TSK used to advertise very heavy around us. Looking only at the TV ads I had the impression that it was a total mcdojo.I did have an oppertunity to see a demonstration done by the "demo team" and it was very impressive.But that was the "demo team". They are hand-picked students who are dedicated and were personally trained by Tiger himself.Will you get the same training as the demo team receives? Probably not. But what I did learn from this experience is that it is possible to get very high quality training there.

This is not traditional karate. So you also have to consider what it is you want to learn. What I saw looked like a combination of Karate, Boxing and maybe some other things thrown in. I understand it is now called Tiger Schulmans Mixed Martial Arts.

I became a student in 1998. I initially signed up for the beginner classes and then was pressured into the intermediate. They were expensive back then and I could just imagine what they cost now. When I was a student, it was taught as a hybrid mix of Karate, Aikido, and Jujitsu. Then boxing and grappling was introduced. Forms (katas) were eliminated at some point (probably around 2000) and instead of alternating weeks of sparring and forms, we switched to alternating boxing and grappling. There is one thing that many people have failed to mention. ALL of the equipment and uniforms must be bought from TIGEAR or you will not be allowed to train. And they are WAY overpriced. That was yet another way they stiffed you financially. I loved the training but the way they nickel and dime you just turned my stomach. They also make you buy bundles of wood from them for woodbreaking week which I never attended for that reason. What they taught was good, but I don't like being robbed. So I quit. I miss training and hope to get back into it one day soon but not through them. Hope this information helps.